So much average

best movie i've ever seen.

Awesome Movie

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Years ago a Thai friend of mine asked me who Jimmy Cagney was. I'm not sure which Cagney film I showed him (definitely not this one), and after it was over my friend said, "Do Americans think that is good acting?" Now, every time I watch a Jimmy Cagney film I think back to that comment, and frankly, most of the time I conclude that Cagney is not a great, nor even a very good actor. Yet, there was something special about him. Perhaps a screen presence which superseded acting. Unfortunately, by 1956, an old Jimmy Cagney (aged 57, though he seems older) no longer had that screen presence (probably a major reason this film lost money). I'm 64. I don't know ANYONE who walks like that, moves like that, talks like that; it's not real. At this point in his career, Cagney was seemingly becoming a caricature of himself.But actually, this is a good film...just a poor choice for the lead. Somehow, Cagney on a horse just doesn't sit right...so to speak. It's one of those sorta "big" Westerns, with spectacular scenery, a decent story, and some good actors. So if you're watching this for Jimmy Cagney, you may be disappointed. If you're watching this just as a Western, you'll probably enjoy it despite Jimmy Cagney...and it is a cut above most Westerns.The plot is mostly pretty interesting. A man has a streak of cruelty in him that leads him to want to hang anyone who steals from him. Just why a much younger Irene Papas (in her American debut) would be so attracted to him...well, that's a hole in the plot. Along comes a young cowboy-to-be (Don Dubbins) who develops romantic feelings for Papas, father/son feelings for Cagney...until he learns more about who Cagney really is (in terms of behavior).Don Dubbins is very good here as the young man, although I guess I would never have seen him as a future lead actor (and he wasn't). Stephen McNally plays the really bad guy well. Irene Papas, despite the illogical aspect of her character, does nicely here. Vic Morrow is overrated as a young man beginning to move toward the wrong side of things; he thought he was James Dean...he wasn't.I'm glad I watched this film. Once. Cagney's career was winding down...and perhaps that was good. Because it's much better to enjoy his earlier films, such as "Yankee Doodle Dandy".

I do NOT like Westerns. In fact, I never watch them because most are so clichéd as to boring due to the repetitions of the proceeding western. That said, I am glad that I read what other people wrote as my curiosity was aroused. Boy, am I glad I saw this movie on Turner Movie Classics! It has to be one of the best kept secrets in film making.How refreshing to see Cagney in a different type of role he's usually cast in. He shines. Watch his face during some of the scenes where he's shot close up. His expression(s) speak more than any words a writer could put in his mouth. Personally, I didn't find Papas that compelling but that's just my take.One of the strong points of the movie is to watch how Cagney's character changes from a hard nosed, determined man to some one who gains a different perspective from those he admires, the young ranch hand and the woman whom he befriended.As to the movie title, this has to be one of the most misleading titles of all times. Cagney is not a bad man by any means in this film. Trying to protect what you've worked all your life to build up makes you a bad man doesn't make you bad. And if you have to take the law into your own hands since there is not law where you live, so be it.

With a Greek thespian such as highly talented Irene Papas ,playing the part of an ex-dancer called "Jocasta ",and a young boy working in her companion's ranch,I was waiting for an Oedipian western,and it is ,in a way ,as "Jo" is like a mother to Steve,writing letters for his mom,and urging him to leave this place before he becomes like "them"...And of course ,the boy falls for her...But the movie avoids metaphysical pretensions and focuses on the way events,Jo and Jeremy (James Cagney) make a man of him -that's what the young lad says in the first minutes-.Superbly filmed with splendid colors and a good use of the wide screen ,the plot revolves around Jeremy and his horses.Jeremy is an ambiguous character (check the title which is thoroughly appropriate: does a "bad" man deserve a tribute?) Rodock can be very cruel ,a cruelty which culminates in a scene where he forces the thieves to walk some miles on a rocky trail without their boots.But he shows in the last scenes that he longs to be loved too.Hats off to Robert Wise,a director who could excel in westerns ,Musicals ("West Side Story") ,horror movies ("the haunting" (1963!) is better than any horror movie I can think of) ,sci-fi ("the day the earth stood still") ,films noirs ("the set up" " odds against tomorrow " )and made the best movie dealing with death row ("I want to live" )!

Since, by and large, this is a forgotten film, I wasn't expecting too much when I sat down to watch it. I was stunned to find a throughly enjoyable film. Fair warning: This is not a shoot-em-up Western...it is a human drama with one fist-fight, one gun battle, one hanging, and some (well-deserved) torture of the bad guys.Evidently, I am a bad man...because I couldn't find one thing wrong with the way the Cagney character went about his business. He was strong, fair...and brutal ONLY when he had to be. Yes, that brutality would have been unforgivable if there was a sheriff or other body of law close-by, but the movie makes the point repeatedly that there is no law for 200 miles in any direction. When there is a vacuum, or void, one must fill it. What the Cagney character does is fill that void with the mandatory strength and frontier justice required for the situation. What he did does not work in today's society, but they weren't living in today's society, so one must take the philosophy in context of the times. He was not an unfair man, or brutal for the fun of it...he was brutal in order to punish the guilty who were there to steal from him...to steal his property, his livelihood, and also those who would try to steal his woman. Personally, I think if there was a bit more justice Cagney style, we wouldn't have nearly the level of crime we do today.Even with regard to how he treats the Irene Papas character, I didn't see great fault with the man. Yes, he put off marrying her because he had issues, but virtually every scene they had together he was showing her some sort of affection, or enjoying her company...and never in a perverted "I own you" kind of way, but you could see in his face how deeply he cared for her. The drama arises from his determination to hang those who would steal his horses from him, and the Papas character's revulsion by it. Other than that, they clearly love each other.Robert Wise does a masterful job with the directing...this is a gorgeous film. Whether it's one of the massive Cinemascope shots, or an intimate two-shot in a barn at night, everything is just beautiful.The acting throughout is quite good, with Irene Papas absolutely phenomenal in her central role. Cagney, with only one or two over-the-top moments, is outstanding as the tough-shell-tender-center rancher who must keep an entire world together...land, men, women, and cattle. He was an actor who could do more with a guttural sound than he could with a paragraph of dialogue. He has some brilliant moments in this film. Don Dubbins is perfectly cast as the "soft" Easterner trying to make it as a horse wrangler. At first I thought I didn't like his acting, but I think it was actually the character he was playing that I didn't like...a bit too meek for my taste...but that was the character written, so he must have done a good job if I believed it enough to not like it. My only real complaint is that there's not even close to enough screen time for Chubby Johnson, Lee Van Cleef, and Royal Dano.The weakest part of the film is probably the script, which is decent, but not great. Fortunately, they hired top named actors for leads and support, and they infused the movie with a lot that wasn't on the page.Overall, an enjoyable Western that is well worth a viewing. 8 out of 10 from me for the great Cagney and Papas, plus the brilliance of Robert Wise's direction.